The country-mans recreation, or The art of [brace] planting, graffing, and gardening, [brace] in three books. The first declaring divers waies of planting, and graffing, and the best times of the year, with divers commodities and secrets herein, how to set or plant with the root, and without the root; to sow or set pepins or curnels, with the ordering thereof, also to cleanse your grafts and cions, to help barren and sick trees, to kill worms and vermin, and to preserve and keep fruit; how to plant and proin your vines, and to gather and presse your grape; to cleanse and mosse your trees, to make your cider and perry, with many other secret practises which shall appear in the table following. The second treateth of the hop-garden, with necessary instructions for the making and maintenance thereof, ... with some directions for tabaco. Whereunto is added, The expert gardener, containing divers necessary and rare secrets belonging to that art, ... hereunto is likewise added the Art of angling.

Here follow certaine directions for the Sowing, Planting and Transplanting of TABACO.

I Intend to write but sparingly of this subject (th••ough not very many have formerly treated here of:) I shall first therefore begin (passing by the severall names it is called by) as also the severall species or kinds thereof. With us in England generally it is called Tabaco, the shape and forme whereof very much resembleth the greater Com∣fry, insomuch that some would take it, or rather mistake it for great Comfry, they may rather deeme it to be yellow Henbane, they are not much unlike. It hath a thick round stalk nere about two foot high, whereon do grow fat green leaves, but not so large as that which grows in the Indies, somewhat round pointed, not being notched or cut in the edges, and bigger down ward towward the root than it is a∣bove: while it is young it is leaved, and putteth forth some branches distant from one another halfe a foot, whereby it is furnished with leaves, and putting forth severall joynts, at length it grows to a great height. The stalk branching forth beareth at the tops sundry flowers coming out of a swad or husk, having the fashion of a bell, scarce standing above the brinks of the husk: no sooner are the flowers gone, but the seeds appeare, which are very small, not much unlike the seeds of yellow henbane; when they are not yet ripe they are of a green colour, but when they be ripe, they are of a black colour. The roots are not very great nor woody, but peri∣shing,

but that, not withstanding the hard frosts in winter, it sprouts up againe in the Spring.

The seeds were first brought from some remote part of the world into this Commonwealth not many yeares since, and were it not for its physicall qualities that it hath, more than the great benefit which will redound to this Nation by planting it (being not of veric great esteeme) I had spared this labour: and my chiefe reason for this is, be∣cause I am of opinion, that hearbs either transplanted, or brought in seed into this Land, (if it shall agree with the soyl) will agree better with the constitution of our bodies, than that which is brought from any forrein part from be∣yond the Seas.

The nature of the Soyle that is required for the Sowing, Planting or Transplanting Tabaco.

THe most fruitfull and fertil soyle naturally, or by art so made, is most requisite for this purpose: if the Soyle be naturally fat and strong, regard likewise must be had of the scituation of the ground, whether in field or garden, that the place be not over-shadowed with Trees, whereby the Sunne may be hindered from yielding unto it its heat: neither must your Tabaco be planted or sowne in wide & large fields which lies open to all winds and wea∣thers, especially the North winds. And as unkindly blasts are a great enemy to the thriving of it on the one side, so on the other side, the want of the comfort of the heat of the Sunne will so chill it, that it will never come to perfection.

But if by Art: your ground must be well dunged and manured, which ought to be mixed and incorporated with the earth, that there may not be the least appearance of Dung. Moreover the Dung you so make use of must lie a long time rotting, if it be gathered out of the stable: Your best soyle therefore for present occasion is such as is taken up in the streets, or else Ashes sifted.

Your Hops and Tabaco will require the selfe manuring, and I am of opinion that such lands as they sow their Hempe in, must needs be fit for this purpose, because it is fat and mellow.

The best way of sowing your Seeds

SOme are of opinion that the Seeds should be care∣lesly cast abroad without either sowing or raking, the ground being first prepared with the Plough or the Spade.

Others againe will tell you, that you must make a small hole in the ground with your finger, about the depth of your fingers length, wherein you may put ten or twelve seeds, and so cover the hole againe: and this reason they give for their so doing: for say they, the seeds being very small, are either subject to be blowne away by every small winde: or else parched by the ex∣treame scorching heat of the Sunne. I prefer this way before the former.

Others againe would have us sow the seeds as Lettu∣ces and other small seeds are committed to the ground, by taking some of the finest moulde, and putting it into a platter of wood, or some such like vessell, mix∣ing the earth very well with the seed, and so cast to it on the ground very thinne and sparingly. This may be their reason, because the seed being mixed so well with the earth, will stick close to some small crummes of earth, that the wind cannot disperse it, and besides it occasioneth the speedier rooting thereof, and somewhat shelters it, that the heat of the Sunne will not much annoy it: but if you shall put a small quantity of Ashes very finely sifted into the vessell among the earth and seeds, it would be much better.

The time of Sowing or Planting.

IN the Moneths of March, Aprill, or May, the Seed may be committed to the earth, but the most fit and convenientest season is conceived to be in the middest of Aprill, or before (if the Spring be very forward) for March winds are no good friend unto them: wherefore a good way were to cover your beds, already sowed, with old Matts, and when the Sunne doth appeare to uncover them the next morning, but because you should spare some daily labour and toyle you might be put to, once for all fence it with reeds against the North-wind, for the space of a moneth or two.

Of ordering your ground after Sowing your Seed,

IN the first place keep your ground cleare from weeds, aswell before the sowing of the seed, as afterwards, because otherwise the weeds will choake the plant, and steal away the strength of the ground, which should nou∣rish it. Also it would not be amisse to remove all stones from about them, because the stones will im∣pede their growth, and may occasion it to grow awry, contrary to the nature of it. Indeed, if we will believe au∣thors, it is a very sullen Plant, and apt to take distast, which may be the reason that Physicians terme it a hearbe of Mars, and I may adde another observation of my owne, that from hence it is that all the Souldiers so generally approve of it, that scarce one of a hundred can be well long without it. I write not this to give any encouragement to our English Planters of Tabaco, because when they have done all they can, they are recompenced with a sorry crop in eonclusion, it being, generally stiled by the name of Mundungos: but rather to animate Gentlemen, who happily may have spare ground enough, to sow and plant it in their Gardens,

not that they should think thereby to make any great gain by it, but to have it in readinesse when occasion shall re∣quire, either for his own or neighbours use. The rare vertues of Tabaco, the Physicians, Apothecaries and Her∣balists, can best acquaint you with.

If the Season of the year prove hot and dry, after the sowing of your seed, you must have a speciall care to the watering of your ground, and this must be done neither too early, nor too late in the morning, especially in the Mo∣neths of April or May, nor too late in the Evening, and after the leaf hath appeared above ground, about a foot high, you may then transplant them.

The manner of transplanting Tabaco.

YOu shall (for you must be very chary of roots that you perish them not) take a knife, or some other tool, and cut round about the roots all the earth so deep as you may take up the roots entire, which when you have done, you must be very chary in separating of them, (if there be more than one root) wherefore your best way is to take the earth, that you so digged up, with the roots, and put it into a Tub of water, and in short time the water will wash away the earth from the small and tender Imps, and by this means, you may sever the one Imp from the other without any danger of breaking them; the one being parted from the other, set them in the place (which before either was, or must now be prepared for them) about four foot distance, the one from the other, and as near as you can so order it, that it may have the benefit of the South Sun, and that they may be defended from the North-winds: with all let them not want of their due watering in Summer, for as drink to a thirsty soul; so water cherisheth and refresheth the drooping and almost dropping leaves of each Plant: but chiefly this Plant, which above all o∣ther will require it, for of it sell, it is very hot by nature.

The time of gathering it for your use.

THe store that you intend to keep for your use by you, must be gathered before that it either flowreth or seed∣eth, and therefore I conceive your best time woud be about the middle of June, for then it is in its full strength, and having gather'd it, you may not leave it in the Sun to dry, but as Colesfoot is ordered in drying, so may you order your Tabaco, and be sure that each leaf be through dry before you put them together, for fear lest they should grow musty, and by that means made uselesse, and to prevent this, your wi∣sest course will be to let them hang severally by themselves, as at first, onely you may, if you please, remove them from the drying place in Winter into some warmer place, because though in the Summer, it lying open to the aire, it was be∣neficiall to you, it may in the Winter prove as prejudi∣ciall.

The time of flowring and seeding.

IT beareth Flowers from the latter end of June till the latter end of August, and they are of a greenish, yellow colour, which the stalk branching forth, doth bear at the top thereof: these flowers are set in green husks, but ap∣pear not much above the brims of of the husks. The seed is likewise contained in the great heads, after the flowers are decayed.

Of the Roots and Leaves.

THe Roots and Leaves do yield a Gluish and Rofinsh kind of juice, somewhat yellow, and smelling somewhat like Rosin, but unpleasant, and of a sharp, eager and biting taste; which shews that it is by nature hot, more than in the second degree, and dry in the first, whereupon we may inferre, that it is no kind of yellow Henbane.

To preserve the Plant or Roote from dying ••n the Winter.

THe root (as I said before) may spring up againe of its owne accord, but seldome after a sharp win∣ter: for when long and tedious frosts have crusted the earth, out of all question the roote, if not pe∣rished, will be much endangered, and at the 'Spring time not be able, thorough weaknesse, to prosper. Therefore I shall direct you how to preserve them, and keep the leaves green all the winter.

Some would have you sence about your ground with reeds, or such things, as will breake the force of the cold winds: and to preserve them from frosts, they advise you to cover the Plants with Matts: but as such a weight continually pressing the Plant downe will rotte it, so will it do but little good to the Plants in ex∣tremity of Winter.

Others would have you make a slight house of Deale about your Plants to preserve them, which you may remove afterwards. Such as have enough may be at this un necessary charge.

But the best way, as I conceive, to preserve them is by removing them in the winter, the manner thus: Take up the root with the earth about them, put all into some pot or any other thing fit for the purpose, and set them in a warme place about your house, and let it abide there all the winter, but if the Sun chance to shine very hot, afford your Plant the benefit thereof for one hour or two, and so returne it to its former place, this is the most certaine way to preserve roots and Plants all the Winter, and in the Spring set them into the ground with the same earth about them.